Parents and former governors at a leading grammar school found to be systematically excluding pupils halfway through their A-level studies say there needs to be a full inquiry in order to restore confidence in the school.

A statement issued on Monday on behalf of four former St Olave’s governors – Tony Wright-Jones, Julian Grainger, Neil Reddin and Richard Senior – said that the change of heart was welcome but not enough.

“Of course it’s to be welcomed that this year’s sixth formers will be allowed to continue, but we must not forget all those who have been previously expelled half way through their A-levels,” it read.

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“The students and teachers at St Olave’s are fantastic people, but this head and the governing body need investigating before parents lose confidence in the school.”

The leadership of headteacher Aydin Önaç has also been flagged up by some parents, former governors and pupils concerned about his relentless focus on improving results and the pressure on students to achieve. One former pupil said: “We were once told by Mr Önaç that he liked to think we were five times better than everyone else - five times more stressed perhaps.”

Önaç was also criticised by a parent of a former student as only offering praise to those pupils “who got places at Oxbridge or at medical school, or maybe Imperial”.

“He never praised any pupils going anywhere else,” the parent added.

Önaç, who gained some notoriety in Orpington when he ate a baked spider in assembly to raise money for Olave’s, was previously headteacher at Fortismere – a popular comprehensive in north London. His time there was not without controversy either - the Daily Telegraph reported that he was awarded a £40,000 bonus when he joined.

The London Evening Standard reported opposition from some parents and teachers, who complained that his pursuit of results was to the detriment of less academic children in the catchment area.

About 16 pupils at St Olave’s had been told their places for year 13 – the last year of school – had been withdrawn after they failed to get three Bs at AS levels sat at the end of year 12.

Some of the pupils who would have benefited from the change of heart are not expected to return, however. One parent told the Guardian her son and a number other pupils have decided not to return to St Olave’s despite the school’s climbdown. “We’ve lost confidence in the school,” she said.

“They’ve not come back and said, ‘We really, really got this wrong. We’re going to support you – and this is what we’re going to do’. They need to acknowledge what they did was not right.”

Another parent, who would like his son to return to Olave’s despite his bruising experience, said: “Some people have lost faith in the school. But Olave’s is still a good school. We mustn’t forget that.”

A number of parents of former pupils have contacted the Guardian with similar allegations that their child was forced out in previous years. One parent said: “Our daughter was completely mentally shaken and distraught. She felt like a complete failure.”

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The first parents knew of the climbdown was when they received an email on Friday from Önaç that stated: “I am pleased to tell you that, in the interests of the wellbeing of students at St Olave’s grammar school, the governors and I have decided to offer to allow all students the opportunity to continue with their A-level programmes in year 13 should they wish to.”

It continued: “Students at the start of year 13 will continue to abide by the sixth form rules and regulations, which will be amended accordingly. There will also be no explicit reference to examination entries. We shall therefore be happy to welcome [your child] back to resume his A-levels should you feel that St Olave’s is the best place for this.”

The school’s leadership and the governing body have declined to respond or comment publicly since the Guardian’s revelations were first published last week. On Friday evening a statement was issued to the media on the school’s behalf by the diocese of Rochester.

It said: “Following a review of the school’s policy on entry to year 13, the headmaster and governors of St Olave’s grammar school have taken the decision to remove this requirement and we have today written to all parents of pupils affected to explain this and offer them the opportunity to return to the school and continue their studies.”

The St Olave’s story has turned the spotlight on a practice that is thought to be employed by a number of high-achieving schools across England in order to boost a school’s league table position.

Following the publicity surround the Olave’s case, dozens of parents and pupils contacted the Guardian with similar stories, with pupils being ejected halfway through their studies for fear of poor results which might damage league table position.

Many schools will now be reviewing their polices after the Department for Education made clear they are not allowed to remove sixth form pupils because of academic attainment. A department statement said: “Excluding pupils temporarily or permanently for non-disciplinary reasons is unlawful.”

Lawyers acting for the St Olave’s parents say they have received a number of calls from other families whose children have found themselves in a similar predicament and are pursuing possible legal action against some schools.